Stirrup



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISABELLA HILLEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,082, dated January 25, 1881.

Application filed October 21, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISABELLA HILLEN, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stirrups, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frontview. Fig. 2 is a front view with the stirrup open. Fig.3 is the outside piece, and Fig. 4 is the inside piece.

The object of my invention is to provide a i up which shall be constructed in such a manner that the person using the same will not be liablevto have the foot held in the stirrup in case of accident, but is so arranged that when the weight is taken from the bottom of the same and applied to any other portion of the interior surface a leaf of the stirrup will become disengaged and allow the foot to be withdrawn, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

In the drawings, A represents the inside upright portion of the stirrup, having at its lower end ears or a suitable attachment for hinging thereto the other portion of the stirrup.

At the upper end of A is formed a crosspiece, D, as in ordinary stirrups, having therein a horizontal slot, E, through which the stir-. rup-strap is passed. The free end of the piece D is cut oii on the same angle as that to which it is attached at A, and has on the face of this angle a lug, F, of any desired size or shape.

0 represents thefoot-piece of the stirrup, to which is cast the outside piece B, the upper end of which has avertical slot, G,With which the lug F engages. The foot-piece C is hinged to the upright A by means of a pin, H, or other suitable device. In the foot-piece O, and at the end which is hinged to A, one end of a flat steel spring is sunk flatwise half its length, the free end being bent upward and actuating against the inner surface of the upright A, the object of this spring being to exert a downward pressure on the lug F by the upright B, so that when the upright is once disengaged from the lug the angle B (Model.)

0 will drop downward and the more readily allow the foot to be withdrawn in case of accident.

It will be observed that the pressure of the foot-piece G, the lug F having an upward angle, will prevent the pieces B Ofrom falling down; but the moment thefoot becomes turned in the stirrup and the pressure is relaxed from the foot-piece the slot will become detaohed from the lug, and at once release the foot.

A spring may also be formed at the lug F; but I prefer it in the position herein shown.

In usethe hinged portion is inside or nearest the horse, which allows the foot to be readily taken out or disengaged should the rider be thrown.

By hinging the part B at the inside corner, on the side of the stirrup opposite to the latch, the pressure of the foot on the bottom piece of the stirrup prevents the slot above from becoming disengaged, and the hinge being at the corner nearest the horse, in case the rider should be thrown, the moment the foot is removed from the foot-piece and acts against the outside upright of the stirrup the latch becomes disengaged and opens the whole stirrup, making it impossible to hold the foot.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved article of manufacture consisting of a stirrup formed of two pieces, hinged together at one of the lower corners, and provided with a detachable connection at one of the upper corners, on the opposite side, consisting of a slot and lug, all substantially as set forth, for the purpose stated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 8 5 have hereunto set my hand in the presence of witnesses.

ISABELLA HILLEN.

Witnesses:

Miss MARY A. HILLEN, LILLY E. HILLEN. 

